In this remarkable, landmark publication, countryman Sir Johnny Scott evokes all that is romantic about the British countryside, its people, customs and traditions. Over its 600 gloriously illustrated pages, Johnny draws on his wisdom and knowledge to reveal a forgotten culture, and encourages us all to rediscover a beautiful Britain. “I always think of nightingales when spring arrives in the south of England and winter is still reluctant to release its grip north of the Border. I heard my first as a very small child while staying with my grandparents on the Ashdown Forest. My sister woke me one night with an excited whisper, 'A nightingale! You must listen to the nightingale sing!' Together we sat on the window seat, gazing across moonlit lawns towards the forest. At that moment, as if nature had not already done enough to impress, the most wonderful sound I had ever heard filled the silence, as the nightingale started to sing. A rapid succession of varied, unconstructed notes, some harsh, some liquid, sung with great exuberance and vigour, changed to a long, slow, pleading song that rose in volume to a sudden piteous crescendo, before reverting to a tune of jollity and mirth. In my mind's eye I saw it erect and glowing, somewhere in the darkness among the oak trees, but no amount of searching that morning produced a single golden feather.” Throughout the pages of A Book of Britain, Johnny Scott celebrates the landscape and people and reveals why, through centuries of careful management, conservation and cultivation, Britain looks as it does. We discover Royal forests and protected oaks; learn animal behaviour and how best to observe wildlife whether on the moors or in your garden; we learn about traditional country sports from familiar hobbies such as fishing and shooting to lesser-known activities such as “swan upping”. Johnny teaches us to look to animals and nature to predict the weather, and reveals many customs and traditions that are in danger of being lost. This book is a gift in every sense – not only in its sheer scope and presence, but in the rich legacy it will leave behind for future generations.

Ever faced a crowd of fifteen 5-year olds and quaked? Well, here is your chance to bring order and calm to the party proceedings. Just consult your Gem and you can prepare for those half forgotten games such as Musical Bumps, Simon Says and Blind Man’s Buff. Collins Gem Children’s Party Games provides clear advice and instructions on the most popular family and party games. It is an invaluable guide for organizing children’s and family parties, for wet weekends, Christmas family holidays as well as train or car journeys. The clear instructions also include: Number and age of participants How long the game lasts What equipment is required How to prepare for the game For hours of family games and entertainment look no further than this Gem.

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The City of Dreadful Night by Rudyard Kipling - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Rudyard Kipling’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Kipling includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily. eBook features: * The complete unabridged text of ‘The City of Dreadful Night by Rudyard Kipling - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)’ * Beautifully illustrated with images related to Kipling’s works * Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook * Excellent formatting of the text Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

Pride and prejudice, one of the most famous novels by Jane Austen, follows uneasy relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, a landowning aristocrat who is too proud to speak to any of the locals and whom Elizabeth overhears refusing to dance with her.

This unique edition of Dubliners from Dead Dodo Vintage includes the full original text as well as exclusive features not available in other editions.

A nightingale finds a young romantic student in tears because he cannot find a red rose for his beautiful ball partner. There are no red roses in the garden. The nightingale visits all the rose-trees in the area, and one of the roses tells her there is a way to produce a red rose, but only if the nightingale is prepared to sing the sweetest song for the rose all night with her heart pressing into a thorn, sacrificing her life. Seeing the student in tears, and valuing his human life above her bird life, the nightingale carries out the ritual.

Original Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which brought him international fame as one of the greatest crime fiction writers. Conan Doyle wrote several volumes of stories featuring detective Holmes and Dr. Watson but, in 1893, hoping to concentrate on more serious writing, he attempted to kill off Holmes. This attempt resulted in a public outcry and later made him resurrect Holmes. This edition features some of the most popular original Sherlock Holmes stories including: Silver Blaze, The Yellow Face, The Stock-Broker's Clerk, The “Gloria Scott”, The Musgrave Ritual, The Reigate Puzzle, The Crooked Man, The Resident Patient, The Greek Interpreter, The Naval Treaty, The Final Problem.

On Christmas Eve, the children of Doctor Stahlbaum were not allowed into the family room, let alone the adjoining living room. Evening had come, and Fritz and Marie Stahlbaum sat huddled in a corner. As was usual on Christmas Eve, no-one had brought in a light, and so they sat in an eerie darkness.

Rare materials on Belarus are a potential treasure trove for the English language reader. A blank spot on the map for many, Belarus is an undiscovered mystery in the heart of Europe – undiscovered, because little has been published on the country’s history and current affairs, and the origin of the ethnic group that calls itself ‘Belarusians’. Author Lubov Bazan attempts to uplift the veil of secrecy surrounding Belarus and answer an important question of the ethnogenesis of the Belarusians. Unique in its ongoing struggle for independence, throughout its history Belarus has been deprived of this luxury by being continuously included in various state formations such as Kievan Rus’, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. A History of Belarus is a thorough chronological narrative that covers major milestones of Belarus’s journey into the 21st century. Lubov Bazan gives her readers plenty of leeway to form their own conclusions about the historical material presented. By incorporating different theoretical viewpoints on fundamental issues such as the ethnic background of the Belarusian people and formation of their national identity, the origins of the language, and the historically complex religious composition of the country, Bazan offers a platform for discussion.

It was in this interesting border region, and from among these valiant Eastern folk, that Nikola Tesla was born in the year 1857, and the fact that he, today, finds himself in America and one of our foremost electricians, is striking evidence of the extraordinary attractiveness alike of electrical pursuits and of the country where electricity enjoys its widest application. Mr. Tesla's native place was Smiljan, Lika, where his father was an eloquent clergyman of the Greek Church, in which, by the way, his family is still prominently represented. His mother enjoyed great fame throughout the countryside for her skill and originality in needlework, and doubtless transmitted her ingenuity to Nikola; though it naturally took another and more masculine direction. The boy was early put to his books, and upon his father's removal to Gospic he spent four years in the public school, and later, three years in the Real School, as it is called. His escapades were such as most quick witted boys go through, although he varied the programme on one occasion by getting imprisoned in a remote mountain chapel rarely visited for service; and on another occasion by falling headlong into a huge kettle of boiling milk, just drawn from the paternal herds. A third curious episode was that connected with his efforts to fly when, attempting to navigate the air with the aid of an old umbrella, he had, as might be expected, a very bad fall, and was laid up for six weeks.. ABOUT AUTHOR: Nikola Tesla (1856 –1943) was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. Tesla gained experience in telephony and electrical engineering before emigrating to the United States in 1884 to work for Thomas Edison in New York City. He soon struck out on his own with financial backers, setting up laboratories and companies to develop a range of electrical devices. His patented AC induction motor and transformer were licensed by George Westinghouse, who also hired Tesla for a short time as a consultant. His work in the formative years of electric power development was involved in a corporate alternating current/direct current "War of Currents" as well as various patent battles. Tesla went on to pursue his ideas of wireless lighting and electricity distribution in his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments in New York and Colorado Springs, and made early (1893) pronouncements on the possibility of wireless communication with his devices. He tried to put these ideas to practical use in an ill-fated attempt at intercontinental wireless transmission, his unfinished Wardenclyffe Tower project. In his lab he also conducted a range of experiments with mechanical oscillators/generators, electrical discharge tubes, and early X-ray imaging. He also built a wireless controlled boat, one of the first ever exhibited. Tesla was renowned for his achievements and showmanship, eventually earning him a reputation in popular culture as an archetypal "mad scientist". His patents earned him a considerable amount of money, much of which was used to finance his own projects with varying degrees of success. He lived most of his life in a series of New York hotels, through his retirement. Tesla died on 7 January 1943. His work fell into relative obscurity after his death, but in 1960 the General Conference on Weights and Measures named the SI unit of magnetic flux density the tesla in his honor. There has been a resurgence in popular interest in Tesla since the 1990s.

Although Smoking is generally associated with Tobacco only, yet there are other plants whose leaves are used for similar purposes & these will be referred to as we come to the different means of using them. Our first Woodcut of Tobacco is from STELLA—ROMA 1669. a work of great value as giving Pipes & the Hookah of Persia as well as Plants but we will start with some of the growths now most generally known of the “NICOTIANA” Family which is very widely spread over the face of the Earth & has of late made great strides in Borneo & Sumatra. We are greatly indebted to old German woodcuts for solid infor-mation anent details of Habits & customs of the 16th. Century which our own people have not handed down to us, take for instance “Hans Sachs.” Book of Trades. Had smoking been in vogue in his day he would have given it—or rather Jost Ammon would have illustrated it so here in 1616 A.D. we find a Sturdy German, blowing a tremendous cloud. It is taken from an old work now in Frankfurt—viz

Plato saith “tov peov akei gewmetreiv”, That "God doth alwayes worke by Geometry", that is, as the wiseman doth interprete it, Sap. XI. 21. Omnia in mensura & numero & pondere disponere. Dispose all things by measure, and number, and weight: Or, as the learned Plutarch speaketh; He adorneth and layeth out all the parts of the world according to ra-te, proportion, and similitude. ??Now who, I pray you, understandeth what these termes meane, but he which hath some meane skill in Geometry? Therefore none but such an one, may be able to declare and teach these things unto ot-hers.??How many things are there in holy Scripture which may not well be understood without some meane skill in Geometry? The Fabricke and bignesse of Noah's Arke: The Sciagraphy of the Temple set out by Ezechiel, Who may understand, but he that is skilfull in these Arts? I speake not of many and sundry words both in the New and Old Testaments, whose genuine and proper signification is merely Geometricall: And cannot well be conceived but of a Geometer.??To the Reader:??Friendly Reader, that which is here set forth to thy view, is a Translation out of Ramus. ??Formerly indeed Translated by one Mr. Thomas Hood, but never before set forth with the Demonst-rations and Diagrammes, which being cut before the Authors death, and the Worke it selfe finished, the Coppie I having in mine hands, never had thought for the promulgation of it, but that it should have died with its Author, considering no small prejudice usually attends the printing of dead mens Workes, and wee see the times, the world is now all eare and tongue, the most given with the Athenians, to little else than to heare and tell newes: ??And if Apelles that skilfull Artist alwayes found so-mewhat to be amended in those Pictures which he had most curiously drawne; surely much in this Worke might have beene amended if the Authour had lived to refine it..

The first question to be proposed by a rational being is, not what is profitable, but what is Right. Duty must be primary, prominent, most conspicuous, among the objects of human thought and pursuit. If we cast it down from its supremacy, if we inquire first for our interests and then for our duties, we shall certainly err. We can never see the Right clearly and fully, but by making it our first concern. No judgment can be just or wise, but that which is built on the conviction of the paramount worth and importance of Duty. This is the fundamental truth, the supreme law of reason; and the mind, which does not start from this in its inquiries into human affairs, is doomed to great, perhaps fatal error. The Right is the supreme good, and includes all oth-er goods. In seeking and adhering to it, we secure our true and only happiness. All prosperity, not founded on it, is built on sand. If human affairs are controlled, as we believe, by Almighty Rectitude and Impartial Goodness, then to hope for happiness from wrong do-ing is as insane as to seek health and prosperity by rebelling against the laws of nature, by sowing our seed on the ocean, or making poison our common food. There is but one unfailing good; and that is, fidelity to the Everlasting Law written on the heart, and rewritten and republished in God's Word. Slavery ought to be discussed. We ought to think, feel, speak, and write about it. But whatever we do in regard to it should be done with a deep feeling of re-sponsibility, and so done as not to put in jeopardy the peace of the slave-holding States. On this point public opinion has not been and cannot be too strongly pro-nounced. Slavery, indeed, from its very nature, must be a ground of alarm wherever it exists. Slavery and security can by no device be joined together. But we may not, must not, by rashness and passion increase the peril. To instigate the slave to insurrection is a crime for which no rebuke and no punishment can be too severe. This would be to involve slave and master in common ruin. It is not enough to say, that the Constitution is violated by any action endangering the slave-holding portion of our country. A higher law than the Constitution forbids this unholy interference. Were our national union dissolved, we ought to reprobate, as sternly as we now do, the slightest manifestation of a disposition to stir up a servile war. Still more, were the free and the slave-holding States not only separated, but engaged in the fiercest hostilities, the former would deserve the abhorrence of the world, and the indignation of Heaven, were they to resort to insurrection and massacre as means of victory. Better were it for us to bare our own breasts to the knife of the slave, than to arm him with it against his master. ? ABOUT AUTHOR William Ellery Channing (1780 – 1842) was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and along with Andrews Norton, (1786-1853), one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker in the liberal theology of the day. Channing's religion and thought were among the chief influences on the New England Transcendentalists, though he never countenanced their views, which he saw as extreme. The beliefs he espoused, especially within his "Baltimore Sermon" of May 5, 1819, at the ordination of a future famous theologian and educator in his own right, Jared Sparks, (1789-1866), as the first minister (1819-1823) of the newly organized (1817) "First Independent Church of Baltimore" (later the "First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Unitarian and Universalist)"). Here he espoused his principles and tenets of the developing philosophy and theology of "Unitarianism" resulted in the organization later in 1825 of the first Unitarian denomination in America (American Unitarian Association) and the later developments and mergers between Unitarians and Universalists resulting finally in the Unitarian Universalist Association of America in 1961. In later years Channing addressed the topic of slavery, although he was never an ardent abolitionist. Channing wrote a book in 1835, entitled, "SLAVERY" James Munroe and Company, publisher. Channing, however, has been described as a "romantic racist" in "Black Abolitionism: A Quest for Human Dignity" by Beverly Eileen Mitchell (133–38). He held a common American belief about the inferiority of African people and slaves and held a belief that once freed, Africans would need overseers. The overseers (largely former slave masters) were necessary because the slaves would lapse into laziness. Furthermore, he did not join the abolitionist movement because he did not agree with their way of conducting themselves, and he felt that voluntary associations limited a person's autonomy. Therefore, he often chose to remain separate from organizations and reform movements. This middle position characterized his attitude about

Semiologia este piatra fundamental? a diagnosticului. Informa?iile anamnestice orienteaz?, datele clinice fundamenteaz?, iar datele de laborator confirm? diagnosticul.Cursul de semiologie medical? ??i propune s? ?narmeze asistentul medical cu metode ?i tehnici de examinare a pacientului ?i, ?n acela?i timp, cu mijloace ?i c?i de a descoperi semnele ?i simptomele ?i a le interpreta ?n mod corespunz?tor cu scopul de a aprecia corect ?i rapid diagnosticul clinic pentru a interveni eficient ?n sprijinul redob?ndirii/amelior?rii s?n?t??ii pacientului. Este structurat ?n trei capitole: (1) Utilizarea terminologiei medicale ?n efectuarea anamnezei; (2) Modific?rile observate de asistenta medical? la inspec?ia general? ?i (3) Manifest?ri cauzate de diferite afec?iuni. La sf?r?it, exist? o sec?iune de teste pentru evaluarea cuno?tin?elor.Datorit? nevoii permanente de cunoa?tere ?i perfec?ionare a asistentului medical, ca ?i a tuturor profesioni?tilor din domeniul s?n?t??ii, aceast? carte este extrem de util? elevilor ?colilor sanitare postliceale.

Ar putea exista alte universuri? O c?l?torie de neuitat ?n lumea g?urilor negre ?i a ma?inilor timpului, a universurilor alternative ?i a spa?iului multidimensional, Lumi paralele ne ofer? un portret conving?tor al revolu?iei care a cuprins lumea cosmologiei.Ideea de universuri paralele ?i teoria corzilor, care le poate explica existen?a, au fost c?ndva privite cu suspiciune de oamenii de ?tiin??, fiind v?zute ca o provincie a misticilor, ?arlatanilor ?i excentricilor.Ast?zi, fizicienii teoreticieni sus?in ?ntr-o propor?ie cov?r?itoare teoria corzilor ?i ultima ei itera?ie, Teoria M. Aceasta, dac? se va dovedi corect?, va reconcilia cele patru for?e ale universului ?ntr o manier? simpl? ?i elegant?, r?spunz?nd totodat? la ?ntrebarea:?Ce s a ?nt?mplat ?nainte de Big Bang?“ ?Folosind cu abilitate analogia ?i umorul, Kaku prezint? varia?iunile la tema universurilor paralele, venind din mecanica cuantic?, cosmologie ?i Teoria M.“ -- Brian Green, autorul c?r?ii The Elegant Universe

TO MY PUPIL.?Beloved pupil! Tamed by thee,?Addish-, Subtrac-, Multiplica-tion,?Division, Fractions, Rule of Three,?Attest thy deft manipulation!??Then onward! Let the voice of Fame?From Age to Age repeat thy story,?Till thou hast won thyself a name?Exceeding even Euclid's glory!??This Tale originally appeared as a serial in The Monthly Packet, beginning in April, 1880. The writer's intention was to embody in each Knot (like the medicine so dexterously, but ineffectually, con-cealed in the jam of our early childhood) one or more mathematical questions "in Arithmetic, Algebra, or Geometry, as the case might be" for the amusement, and possible edification, of the fair readers of that Magazine.?LEWIS CARROLL???"Goblin, lead them up and down."???The ruddy glow of sunset was already fading into the sombre shadows of night, when two travellers might have been observed swiftly—at a pace of six miles in the hour—descending the rugged side of a mountain; the younger bounding from crag to crag with the agility of a fawn, while his companion, whose aged limbs seemed ill at ease in the heavy chain armour habitually worn by tourists in that district, toiled on painfully at his side.??As is always the case under such circumstances, the younger knight was the first to break the silence.?"A goodly pace, I trow!" he exclaimed. "We sped not thus in the ascent!"??"Goodly, indeed!" the other echoed with a groan. "We clomb it but at three miles in the hour."?"And on the dead level our pace is——?" the younger suggested; for he was weak in statistics, and left all such details to his aged companion.?"Four miles in the hour," the other wearily replied. "Not an ounce more," he added, with that love of metaphor so common in old age, "and not a farthing less!"??"'Twas three hours past high noon when we left our hostelry," the young man said, musingly. "We shall scarce be back by supper-time. Perchance mine host will roundly deny us all food!"?"He will chide our tardy return," was the grave reply, "and such a rebuke will be meet."?"A brave conceit!" cried the other, with a merry laugh. "And should we bid him bring us yet another course, I trow his answer will be tart!"

Av?nd ?n vedere c? o serie de concepte bazate pe teoria for?elor electrostatice (leg?turile chimice, cinetic? molecular?, mi?carea braunian? etc.) prezint? grave contradic?ii privind explicarea acestor fenomene ?i formularea unor r?spunsuri coerente la nivelul particulelor atomice, se impune o abordare nou? ?i o analiz? dintr-o alt? perspectiv? a fenomenelor amintite.Este edificator ?n acest sens s? lu?m cazul fluidelor care se pot disocia ?n molecule ?i chiar ?n atomi (chimie general?, C.D.Neni?escu) prin inc?lzire.Rezult? c? pe m?sur? ce cre?te temperatura (ex.a lichidelor) agita?ia termic? cresc?nd, deci cre?te ?i viteza de mi?care a particulelor atomice, scad for?ele de coeziune ?ntre aceste particule . La fel se ?nt?mpl? lucrurile cu metalele . La ?nc?lzirea peste o anumit? temperatur? metalele se ?nmoaie apoi se topesc deci oadat? cu cre?terea temperaturii (deci a vitezei de mi?care a particulelor) scad ca valoare for?ele de coeziune dintre moleculele substan?elor.A?adar avem o corela?ie direct? ?ntre viteza de mi?care a particulelor atomice ?i for?ele de coeziune dintre acestea. Acest lucru ne duce cu g?ndul la faptul c? aceste for?e ar putea fi de natur? electrodinamic?, fiind vorba numai ?i numai de influen?a vitezei de mi?care a particulelor ?i ?n nici un caz de for?e electrostatice care nu depind de viteza de mi?care a particulelor atomice (ci numai de m?rimea sarcinii ?i de distan?a dintre ele conform legii lui Couloumb).[...]

Az egészségügyi szakemberek fontos feladata a kliensekkel folytatott beszélgetés. A diagnózis felállításán túl a terápia megbeszélése, valamint a megel?zésr?l szóló tájékoztatás is hozzájárul a hatékony gyógyításhoz. A korszer?, bizonyíték-alapú gyógyításban az egészségügyi szakember-kliens diskurzusok tanulmányozása megkerülhetetlen részét képezik az egészségtudományi kutatásoknak, hiszen a róluk készített részletes, módszeres és mélységi elemzések kiegészítik a statisztikai tényeken alapuló megk?zelítéseket. A k?nyv egészségügyi szakemberek és hallgatók-orvosok, ápolók, szülészn?k, gyógytornászok, dietetikusok- számára nyújt áttekint? képet a kvalitatív elemzések fajtáiról, módszereir?l és technikáiról, hogy segítséget nyújtson a kutatások megválasztásában, kidolgozásában és publikálásában. A szerz? mind a kézi, mind a számítógépes adatfeldolgozási módszereket példákon keresztül mutatja be, valamint a kül?nb?z? diskurzus-elemzési módszereket magyar k?zleményekb?l vett szemelvények segítségével illusztrálja. A glosszárium jelent?s segítséget nyújt a filozófiai és nyelvészeti kifejezések megértésében. A k?nyv használható kutatásmódszertani segédk?nyvként, de ?nállóan, egy kurzus részeként is alkalmazható.

O investiga?ie ?tiin?ific? pentru ?n?elegerea ?i ?mbun?t??irea capacit??ii min?iiViitorul min?ii umane aduce un subiect rezervat c?ndva exclusiv domeniului science-fiction ?ntr-o realitate nou? ?i surprinz?toare. Acest tur de for?? ?tiin?ific dezv?luie cercet?rile uimi?toare care se efectueaz? ?n laboratoa?rele de top din lumea ?ntreag? – toate baz?ndu-se pe ultimele descoperiri din neuro?tiin?? ?i fizic? – incluz?nd expe?rimente recente ?n telepatie, controlul min?ii, telechinezie ?i ?nregistrarea amintirilor ?i a visurilor.Lectura acestei c?r?i este o aventur? uimitoare nu doar pentru fanii SF, ci ?i pentru pasiona?ii de fizic?, medicin?, neuro?tiin??, care vor descoperi aici vastele posibilit??i ale creierului uman.?Kaku are darul de a explica idei incredibil de complexe ?ntr-un limbaj pe care-l poate ?n?elege ?i un cititor neavizat." - San Francisco Chronicle

These Essays, or rather Lectures, contain the first-fruits of the earliest systematic attempt to apply the theory of Evolution to the products of human handiwork. In their original form they have long been difficult to obtain; and they are reprinted now to supply the needs of candidates for the Oxford Diploma in Anthropology, and of the numerous visitors to the Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford. But they will certainly appeal to a far wider public also, as a brief and authentic statement of their author’s discoveries. The four Essays are reprinted substantially as they were first delivered and published. But verbal errors and actual misquotations have been corrected; and allusions to specimens or diagrams exhibited during the original discourses, but not published, have been replaced so far as possible by references to similar objects figured in the Plates. The Plates are photographic reproductions of the original illustrations, with the exception of Plates V, XIII, XVII, XVIII. Of these, Plate XIII has simply been re-drawn, from a faded original; Plates XVII and XVIII have been translated, without loss of detail, from colours to monochrome shading; Plate V has been reconstituted from illustrations quoted in the text, with the permission of their publisher, Mr. Murray. Plate XXI is reproduced, by permission of Sir John Evans, from the paper which it illustrated originally. The footnotes demand a word of explanation. The author, as the original publications show, was not precise in indicating his sources: he frequently gave, as a quotation, the general sense rather than the exact words of his authority; and occasionally his memory played him false. In the reprint, the precise references have been identified, and are given in full, and obvious errors in the text have been either amended or corrected in a footnote. The editor desires to acknowledge much valuable help in the search for references from Miss C. M. Prior, of Headington.

Copernicus, the astronomer, whose discoveries make him the great predecessor of Kepler and Newton, did not come from a noble family, as certain other early astronomers have done, for his father was a tradesman. Chroniclers are, however, careful to tell us that one of his uncles was a bishop. We are not acquainted with any of those details of his childhood or youth which are often of such interest in other cases where men have risen to exalted fame. It would appear that the young Nicolaus, for such was his Christian name, received his education at home until such time as he was deemed sufficiently advanced to be sent to the University at Cracow. The education that he there obtained must have been in those days of a very primitive description, but Copernicus seems to have availed himself of it to the utmost. He devoted himself more particularly to the study of medicine, with the view of adopting its practice as the profession of his life. The tendencies of the future astronomer were, however, revealed in the fact that he worked hard at mathematics, and, like one of his illustrious successors, Galileo, the practice of the art of painting had for him a very great interest, and in it he obtained some measure of success.??By the time he was twenty-seven years old, it would seem that Copernicus had given up the notion of becoming a medical practitioner, and had resolved to devote himself to science. He was engaged in teaching mathematics, and appears to have acquired some reputation. His growing fame attracted the notice of his uncle the bishop, at whose suggestion Copernicus took holy orders, and he was presently appointed to a canonry in the cathedral of Frauenhurg, near the mouth of the Vistula.? To Frauenburg, accordingly, this man of varied gifts retired. Possessing somewhat of the ascetic spirit, he resolved to devote his life to work of the most serious description. He eschewed all ordinary society, restricting his intimacies to very grave and learned companions, and refusing to engage in conversation of any useless kind. It would seem as if his gifts for painting were condemned as frivolous; at all events, we do not learn that he continued to practise them. In addition to the discharge of his theological duties, his life was occupied partly in ministering medically to the wants of the poor, and partly with his researches in astronomy and mathematics. His equipment in the matter of instruments for the study of the heavens seems to have been of a very meagre description. He arranged apertures in the walls of his house at Allenstein, so that he could observe in some fashion the passage of the stars across the meridian. That he possessed some talent for practical mechanics is proved by his construction of a contrivance for raising water from a stream, for the use of the inhabitants of Frauenburg. Relics of this machine are still to be Been.??The intellectual slumber of the Middle Ages was destined to be awakened by the revolutionary doctrines of Copernicus. It may be noted, as an interesting circumstance, that the time at which he discovered the scheme of the solar system has coincided with a remarkable epoch in the world's history. The great astronomer had just reached manhood at the time when Columbus discovered the new world.??Before the publication of the researches of Copernicus, the orthodox scientific creed averred that the earth was stationary, and that the apparent movements of the heavenly bodies were indeed real movements. Ptolemy had laid down this doctrine 1,400 years before. In his theory this huge error was associated with so much important truth, and the whole presented such a coherent scheme for the explanation of the heavenly movements, that the Ptolemaic theory was not seriously questioned until the great work of Copernicus appeared. No doubt others, before Copernicus, had from time to time in some vague fashion surmised, with more or less plausibility, that the sun..